The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel A. Jinapor, has appealed to the media to partner with the government and the Lands Ministry to create awareness of nature crimes.
He said the public needs to be informed of the urgency of the situation and the adverse effects of these crimes.
Mr Jinapor noted that public education on the devastating effects of these crimes on lives and the planet as a whole can lead to behavioural change.
On the prevalence of nature crimes in the country, he said, “Nature crimes are diverse and cut across various sectors of our economy, including land, forestry, mining, environment, fisheries, maritime and waste management.”
He said this at a nature crime workshop that was organized by the US Agency for Global Media for journalists in Accra.
In outlining the measures the government has put in place to combat nature crimes, he mentioned the ban on harvesting of rosewood in the forestry sector, the operation halt in the mining sector and the introduction of the New Land Act 2020 (Act 1036).
He, however, admitted that these measures would not yield the expected results without the cooperation of such important stakeholders as the media.
The Minister also recommended a multi-sectorial and multidimensional approach and the involvement of such stakeholders as the governments, private sector, civil society organisations, academia, research institutions, traditional leaders, and multinational organisations as a solution to this menace.
Bala Ali, ISD
